Thermosphere
Above 80 km and extends to space, has the highest temperatures. Contains the upper portion of the ionosphere
Stratosphere
Air planes travel in this layer, the ozone layer is located here
Mesosphere
Shooting stars known as meteors burn up in this layer. Contains the lower portion of the ionosphere
atmosphere
Earth's air, which is made up of a thin layer of gases, solids, and liquids; forms a protective layer around the planet and is divided into five distinct layers.
chlorofluorocarbon
group of chemical compounds used in refrigerators, air conditioners, foam packages, and aerosol sprays that may enter the atmosphere and destroy ozone.
condensation
process in which water vapor changes to a liquid
conduction
transfer of energy that occurs when molecules bump into each other.
convection
transfer of heat by the flow of material
coriolis effect
causes moving air and water to turn left in the southern hemisphere and turn right in the northern hemisphere due to Earth's rotation.
ionosphere
layer of electically charged particles in the thermosphere that absorbs AM radio waves during the day and reflects them back at night.
jet stream
narrow belt of strong winds that blows near the top of the troposphere.
land breeze
movement of air from land to sea at night, created when cooler, denser air from the land forces warmer air up over the sea.
ozone layer
layer of the stratosphere with a high concentration of ozone; absorbs most of the Sun's harmful ultraviolet radioation
radiation
energy transfered by waves or rays
sea breeze
movement of air from sea to land during the day when cooler air from above the water moves over the land, forcing the heated, less dense air above the land to rise.
troposphere
layer of Earth's atmosphere that is closest to the ground and contains 99 percent of the water vapor and 75 percent of the atmospheric gases; where clouds and weather occur
ultraviolet radiation
a type of energy that comes to Earth from the Sun, can damage skin and cause cancer, and is mostly absorbed by the ozone layer.
exosphere
Outermost layer of the atmosphere, satelites are located here
hydrosphere
layer of water on the surface of the earth